Living a Joyful LifeУзорак

Comparison, the Greatest Joy Killer "Don’t compare yourself with others. Just look at your own work to see if you have done anything to be proud of." Galatians 6:4 We can draw inspiration and courage from other people's success and achievements, but we should never attempt to look at our lives from the prism of their accolades. There will always be someone doing better than you, and there will always be someone you are doing better than. The goal is to find joy in the excellence and integrity of your own work and assignment. You have to embrace the uniqueness of your calling and purpose if you are going to live a joyful and peaceful life. As children of God, we should contend against and defy the urge to conform to societal stereotypical standards or measures—be it the standard of success, beauty, character or virtue. The world standards are moving signposts. Don’t aim to catch up with it; it’s a set-up for a frustrated life. It will rob you of your joy. "Godliness and contentment are great gains." (1 Tim 6:6). Jesus is the true measure and perfect standard. When you compare your life outcomes with someone else's, it's always a subtle attempt to mock God. But God cannot be mocked. There is nothing that robs us of our joy more quickly than comparison; it's an immature and ungodly thing to do. Parents, never compare your child with someone else's child; it robs them of recognizing and embracing their own uniqueness. Wives, never compare your husband to someone else's; it robs him of his confidence, and husbands, never compare your wife to someone else's; it's an ungodly thing to do. It is only in Jesus Christ we can find a true sense of fulfilment and joy from our works, not by comparing our results or outcomes with other people. Apostle Paul, in his letter to the Corinthians puts it this way, "Oh, don’t worry; we wouldn’t dare say that we are as wonderful as these other men who tell you how important they are! But they are only comparing themselves with each other, using themselves as the standard of measurement. How ignorant!" (2 Cor 10:12). When we have a grounded understanding of God as a loving father who will never deny us anything good, it settles every internal conflict and contentions as to why others may have something we want, but we don’t have it. God knows what we need, when we need it, if we need it, why we need it, and how to get it to us. We have to settle this in our hearts. A joyful and peaceful life is contingent on a contented life. It doesn’t mean we have to settle for less than God’s best; it simply means while we trust God for more and play our part in reaching out for it, we are content and fulfilled in whatever season we are in.